Posted on 08/09/2005 8:37:23 PM PDT by buckeyesrule
An evil resides in the professed camp of the Lord so gross in its imprudence that the most shortsighted can hardly fail to notice it. During the past few years it has developed at an abnormal rate evil for evil. It has worked like leaven until the whole lump ferments. The devil has seldom done a cleverer thing than hinting to the Church that part of their mission is to provide entertainment for the people, with a view to winning them. From speaking out as the Puritans did, the Church has gradually toned down her testimony, then winked at and excused the frivolities of the day. Then she tolerated them in her borders. Now she has adopted them under the plea of reaching the masses.
My first contention is that providing amusement for the people is nowhere spoken of in the Scriptures as a function of the Church. If it is a Christian work why did not Christ speak of it? "Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature." That is clear enough. So it would have been if He has added, "and provide amusement for those who do not relish the gospel." No such words, however, are to be found. It did not seem to occur to Him. Then again, "He gave some apostles, some prophets, some pastors and teachers, for the work of the ministry." Where do entertainers come in? The Holy Spirit is silent concerning them. Were the prophets persecuted because they amused the people or because they refused? The concert has no martyr roll.
Again, providing amusement is in direct antagonism to the teaching and life of Christ and all His apostles. What was the attitude of the Church to the world? "Ye are the salt," not sugar candy-something the world will spit out, not swallow. Short and sharp was the utterance, "Let the dead bury their dead." He was in awful earnestness!
Had Christ introduced more of the bright and pleasant elements into His mission, He would have been more popular when they went back, because of the searching nature of His teaching. I do not hear Him say, "Run after these people, Peter, and tell them we will have a different style of service tomorrow, something short and attractive with little preaching. We will have a pleasant evening for the people. Tell them they will be sure to enjoy it. Be quick, Peter, we must get the people somehow!" Jesus pitied sinners, sighed and wept over them, but never sought to amuse them. In vain will the Epistles be searched to find any trace of the gospel amusement. Their message is, "Come out, keep out, keep clean out!" Anything approaching fooling is conspicuous by its absence. They had boundless confidence in the gospel and employed no other weapon. After Peter and John were locked up for preaching, the Church had a prayer meeting, but they did not pray, "Lord grant Thy servants that by a wise and discriminating use of innocent recreation we may show these people how happy we are." If they ceased not for preaching Christ, they had not time for arranging entertainments. Scattered by persecution, they went everywhere preaching the gospel. They "turned the world upside down." That is the difference! Lord, clear the Church of all the rot and rubbish the devil has imposed on her and bring us back to apostolic methods.
Lastly, the mission of amusement fails to affect the end desired. It works havoc among young converts. Let the careless and scoffers, who thank God because the Church met them halfway, speak and testify. Let the heavy-laden who found peace through the concert not keep silent! Let the drunkard to whom the dramatic entertainment has been God's link in the chain of their conversion, stand up! There are none to answer. The mission of amusement produces no converts. The need of the hour for today's ministry is believing scholarship joined with earnest spirituality, the one springing from the other as fruit from the root. The need is biblical doctrine, so understood and felt, that it sets men on fire
Cool website. Another good new post there:
http://christianunplugged.com/christianflipflopper.htm
Interesting article. But around here pretty much every church is doing the rick warren thing.
A decade ago the buzzword was "entertainment evangelism". Just goes to show that there is no such thing as a new heresy, just the same old same old in different clothes.
While I can understand some chargrin at what 'houses of worship' have grown into; I would think that it is more than likely that there are many who have come to know and experience a Faith; if only by that Faith, taking root because first there was a basketball game. . . .or an exercise class offered at the 'church on the corner'.
Better to think of these churches as engaged in a 'social outreach'. . .attracting the 'body'; so as to serve the soul.
Like it or not; this all serves the community; fills a huge need for individuals or families; whole. . .or fractured. . .
In any event; keeps many on the 'right streets' as opposed to it's opposite.
Good post! Charles Spurgeon was always a favorite of mine.
It's pretty scary when fads can take over churches so easily.
I think I'm going to start a "Jabez Yoga" school where WWJD is the mantra and people meditate to a comtemplative breath prayer of Jabez. The marketing push will have people talk about: "Channeling Jabez on Purpose for Jesus!"
'Attracting the body', yes; but what happens then? 'keeping them in' with greater entertainments and amusements when what originally drew them in starts to pale? Or growing them in The Spirit (and necessarily suffering SOME fall-off when some of them lose interest)?
(or, hopefully, getting them to the point where they WANT more and, seeing they're not getting it there, moving on to Church where they know they CAN grow?)
IS it possible to "hook 'em, keep 'em, and teach 'em" all in the same service? Or is so much effort expended on 'hook & keep' that the level of maturity of the congregation reaches a stunted limit and never progresses?
If they never 'learn the tools' necessary to enable them to stand on their own two (spiritual) feet and evangelize independently (NOT meaning to merely be able to draw others into the same situation they're in), then IS there progress and growth?
Anyone can stand outside and wear a sandwich-board saying "come in and see the show"; but only those IN the Spirit (firmly grounded in the Word and KNOWING what they're teaching) can help lead others to their level.
yeah, but; 'CJPJ' doesn't exactly roll off the tongue... :)
***Like it or not; this all serves the community; fills a huge need for individuals or families; whole. . .or fractured. . .***
And yet nationwide, attendance is drifiting downward.
We are playing with strange fire in order to satisfy itching ears.
ping
"From speaking out as the Puritans did, the Church has gradually toned down her testimony, then winked at and excused the frivolities of the day. Then she tolerated them in her borders. Now she has adopted them under the plea of reaching the masses."
Agree; think the problem with the fire, is less the extras being offered on the outside. ..and more, the dillution of what is being offered on the inside; the growing 'relativism' of the spiritual core of Christian teaching.
See a 'chicken/egg' dilemma here. . .or just bottom line. . .liberal politics reaping consequences.
No doubt about it. . .and well put. . .so to speak ;^)
(as were all your comments. . .)
Agree; think the problem with the fire, is less the extras being offered on the outside. ..and more, the dillution of what is being offered on the inside; the growing 'relativism' of the spiritual core of Christian teaching.
See a 'chicken/egg' dilemma here. . .or just bottom line. . .liberal politics reaping consequences.
(trying to get this post straightened out(!)
***the dillution of what is being offered on the inside***
Agreed.
Check out this very well know churches worship styles:
http://www.saddleback.com/flash/venues.html
"Learn to worship through signing or hula"
I think I'm going to be sick.
*** Now she has adopted them under the plea of reaching the masses." ***
What amazes me is the fact that "The Church" decries everything going on in the popular culture, but then incorporates the culture into everything we do.
When a "seeker" does enter a modern church, the impression is given that there is nothing going on inside the church that can't be found elsewhere...
***IS it possible to "hook 'em, keep 'em, and teach 'em" all in the same service?***
The better question is it Biblical?
The saints are commanded to come together and worship, not the pagans.
Worship is not the place for, but rather the goal of Evangelism.
LOL; and not atypical, I am sure.
Love the music menu. . .'Island Rock/Gospel/Rock'n'Roll/intimateyounger. . .] ie. . .hard rock or soft or just 'easy listening'?
Gives new meaning to the 'rock' of Christianity. . .
(disclaimer: I an NOT making 'fun' of anyone's choice for spiritual affirmation. . .whatever floats your boat or 'rocks it', for that mattter; if it adheres at least, to genuine spiritual values, of course).
That said; the boat does seem to be listing . . .
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